Friday, January 30, 2009

And yes, there are even rules for the Thank You Notes and other Social Stationery.

Thank You Notes

1. If you plan to order thank you notes with your new married monogram, married couple monogram, or new last name, then you may not use it until after the wedding. For showers and pre-wedding events you use stationery with your maiden monogram, maiden name, or simply your first name.

2. It is appropriate to send thank you notes for wedding gifts received before the wedding.

3. Send out your thank you notes as quickly as possible. The gift givers wants to be sure it was received, especially if it was sent directly from a company.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Wedding Invitations have a lot of rules. You'll find many of them easily, but here a few that are more difficult to locate.

Wedding Invitations

1. Honour and Favour are the most formal terms. They're optional. Just be sure to use the U in both places if you use it at all.

2. You "request the honour of your presence" for a house of worship (like a church, temple, or synagogue). You "request the pleasure of your company" for another venue (outside, hotel ballroom, mansion, art museum.

3. It's "half after five o'clock" or "half after five in the evening".

4. Mail everything out 6-8 weeks before the wedding and ask for responses 3 weeks before the wedding day.

5. If your ceremony and reception are in the same location, skip the extra reception card.

6. Order 10% of your total extra envelopes. Your calligrapher will thank you.

7. Have the entire package weighed and measured at the post office before buying stamps. There are rules about the size and rigidity that you don't want to guess on.

Good Luck! And recruit extra help to assemble everything - it takes longer than you would imagine!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

There are some etiquette rules you should know before ordering your Save the Dates, Wedding Invitations, and Thank You Notes. We'll share them in a three part series.

Save the Dates

1. Use the term Save the Date so that people are sure it's not your formal invitation. You should also include the phrase "formal invitation to follow" in small print.

2. Include your first and last names. Some people may not immediately know who Samantha and Brian are and last names are always helpful.

3. It seems obvious, but include the actual date and city where the wedding will take place.

4. Include hotel and accommodations information for out of towners. Once you have rooms blocks secured you can share the local telephone number and rate for your chosen hotel. If this information won't fit on your chosen card then the wedding website is the way to go.

5. Create a wedding website and include the url. There are numerous ways to create a wedding website - just remember that a short url is always better. It's the easiest way to give directions, attire suggestions, updated information, and registry links.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

There are a few key things to do before signing your Catering Contract.

1. Find out exactly what you're getting. If you're confused - ask questions. If the caterer can provide glassware, china, flatware, and barware - what does it look like? If the caterer can provide linens, chairs, and tables - what do they look like?

2. Do the math. Add up the TOTAL cost. Total cost includes service staff, service charges, taxes, menu, bar, and any other charges listed on the contract. Ask about gratuities and other charges. Once you have that number, then you can divide it by your guest count and see your per person price.

3. Check your count. You don't want to guarantee more guests than you anticipate at the wedding. Consult your guest list and give your caterer a minimum number of attendants.

4. Ask about the venue. If you are bringing in a caterer to a venue that does not have a kitchen on site then you may have to bring in stoves and other equipment. This equipment can add to your bottom line, so be sure to ask the caterer what is required before signing.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Liesel and Kevin's eco-friendly wedding was featured in the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings and on a tv special on the Style Network. There were tons of great eco ideas from the wedding, but one of my favorites wasn't as much eco as it was personal. It's actually an idea that I've done in the past.

Guests were asked to write a message to Liesel and Kevin on a square of fabric to be made into a keepsake quilt for the newlyweds.

We asked guests to sign squares of fabric with wishes and advice for a baby shower for my nieces two years ago. Both girls now have a quilt to cherish with words of love from friends and family.

You can find inspiration anywhere - it doesn't have to be a wedding magazine, wedding blog, or old issues of Martha Stewart Living. I found this image in Architectural Digest. This image came from an article about a revitalized penthouse in Dallas.

I love the luxury, that tone of blue mixed with the perfect ivory. I adore damask and this muted version is just right. The subtle hints of pink are just girly enough while the check on the chairs give a masculine edge. It's traditional without feeling overbearing.

Translate it into your wedding design by pulling the blue and ivory combination with accents of pink. Keep it traditional with a air of luxury.

Most of all... it will be comfortable. Just imagine crawling into that bed after a long day...

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

For the flower girls and mini-maids in your wedding party--they can be tricky to outfit. Do they match the bridesmaids or the bride? Our vote: make them super cute and everyone will be happy. Have a gaggle of them if you wish - just make sure they're ready for the role. A crying flower girl isn't fun at the back of the aisle.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

The InterContinental Harbor Court Hotel in downtown Baltimore is featuring

Complimentary "Honeymoon on Us" gift card good for $500-$2,000 towards your Honeymoon. Good at any InterContinental Hotel & Resort for weddings booked in 2009.

Special Value Dates

Friday, Saturday Afternoon and Sunday Weddings
January - August 2009 or November - December 4, 2009
select up to 4 of the following upgrades

Saturday Evening Weddings
January - August 2009 or November - December 4, 2009
select up to 3 of the following upgrades

For any wedding date January - April 1, 2010
select up to 4 of the following upgrades

Choice of Upgrades
Complimentary Bridal Party Tea for up to 10 guests
Discounted Self-Parking of $6 per car
10% off your Rehearsal Dinner pricing
10% off your Post-Wedding Brunch pricing
Bridal Suite at 1/2 off for the evening before the wedding
Complimentary Snack in the Bridal Suite while you're getting ready
Complimentary White chair-covers
Discount coupons for Sunday breakfast for overnight guests
One additional Complimentary Room for the guest of your choice

Friday, January 16, 2009

We always recommend creating a wedding website. It's an easy way to get the information out to your guests about hotels, directions, attire suggestions, and registry information. You can update as necessary and share pictures of the big day afterwards. Plus, it's just fun.

If you need a guide for your wedding website then you should take a gander at Andy and Angela's .

Not only is it the perfect example of a good wedding website - chock full of information - but it's hilarious. You can see a guide of Schrute Farms and check out Angela's Nellie Olsen inspired wedding dress.

Check out the Amour Package. A $40 credit for food and beverage, champagne, strawberries and the essential 1 pm late checkout.

www.chesapeakebay.hyatt.com

Inn at Perry Cabin - St. Michaels, Maryland

Love Is "Inn the Air" - just for Valentine's Day. This three night stay includes dinner for two on the first night, with candlelight turndown. The second day takes you to the Spa for the "Lover's Spa Treatment" and yoga class. The final day start with room service breakfast for two, romantic movie delivered to the room and a later than late 3pm checkout.

www.perrycabin.com

Something different

Hay Adams Hotel - Washington DC

Monuments by Night Package. We live so close to DC, but when was the last night you really took the time to enjoy it? This package includes a two hour evening tour of the monuments in a private sedan. It also includes champagne and a full American breakfast for two.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

I'm not good at wearing heals. They always pinch my toes or rub my heals. I'm perfectly tall enough as it is so I don't need the added height. I looove the way they look but hate the way they make (my toes) feel.

So to that end here are some of my picks for cuter than cute shoes for your wedding day that will last through cocktail hour - if you can't deal with heals like me.

Monday, January 12, 2009

If you had $100 to use on anything you wanted - how would you spend it?

Tell us how you would spend it in comments.

Elizabeth says:

Everyone knows it is not difficult to spend $ 100.00. Just one trip to the grocery store or a check to pay the electric bill each month takes care of that. However, when asked how to thoughtfullyspend $100.00, I would want to buy something that I would use everyday. Recently I splurged and purchased 800 thread count, 100% Egyptian Cotton Sheets. Normally these luxurious sheets would cost over $100, but I went to TJ Maxx and found the perfect color and the perfect size for my bed. Not only at $100 could I afford the linens, but I purchased two new fluffy Ralph Lauren pillows too. The sheets are fabulous and a great luxury after a long day.

Christina says:

If I had $100 to use for anything I wanted I would probably spend $90 of it towards a new lighting fixture for over my kitchen table. It's still the awful builder installed horrible thing and I hate looking at it. With the last $10 I would pay off my library fines (why oh why can't I return on time?).

Sunday, January 11, 2009

You have to see this amazing ceremony structure that a Groom created for his Bride down on the Eastern Shore. This wedding was shot by Regeti's and the images are just amazing. It's meant to look like a ruin and the space is stunning. The pews are from a church and create perfect ceremony space in the couples backyard.

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About Elizabeth Bailey Weddings

Elizabeth Bailey Weddings & Events is a full service event planning company located in Maryland. Elizabeth began her event planning career over 20 years ago and has the confidence of a loyal client following in and around Baltimore, Annapolis, and Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Now joined by additional associates, the company teams up with Maryland's best vendors to create and organize wonderful parties. They are known for their compassionate and competent services, always with a friendly smile. They are experienced in coordinating all types of social events such as weddings, rehearsal dinners, showers, anniversary parties and birthday parties for grown-ups. Excellent references.